DIY four facet drill sharper

[th62]

I started out making a drill sharpener based on the Tormek, but along the way I got a little side tracked and started experimenting with clamping systems, advancing systems and slide systems, this is what I ended up with - my scrap bin is just about full of epic design fails now.
The picture of the sharpened bit is my first try at using it, with a bit of practice it should improve.
It’ll take bits from 2 – 15mm, but now I have a design I’m happy with I’ll make up a decent copy, slightly larger, and possibly a smaller one with some sort of indexing system: trying to line up the cutting edges on 2, 3, 4 mm bits is nigh on impossible. On another note, who would think it so hard to get 5mm threaded rod??? Bunnings, Stratco, Mitre10, all are still firmly ensconced in the 1960s, unless of course you don't mind galvanised.

[chambezio]

Your apparatus looks interesting!!
Keep us informed of your progress with ironing out the bugs.
You have gone down the track (that I have gone down many times before) of seeing something that looks so simple but very hard to recreate in your shed at home. I reckon that a lot of gadgets that are for sale probably were borne out of a pile of failures you couldn't jump over. R&D....Research and Development. It is the unseen portion that makes up the bulk of the price we have to pay for that gadget that looks so simple.
I sharpen my drill bits by hand and eye (with very fluctuating results) my biggest problem is I just can't see well enough to see where I am grinding. Yes I do wear glasses, all the time now, but to sharpen drills I use a pair of 4.00 Magnifiers. It helps but my results are not consistently good.
Your simple gizmo may be my salvation with regards to drill sharpening..... especially the smaller drills.

[Grahame Collins]

First class effort.

Don't worry about the so called fails -remember these words on failure “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”
― Thomas A. Edison

I endorse your use of the front of the wheel - much safer than the side grinding jobbies.

I have a Tormek wheel and needed an sit down and a glass of water when I found the price of their sharpening attachment.


Try the fastener shops for 5mm all thread. Edit Total fasteners has brass 1m x 5mm 00609207, Konect ( Coventry fasteners) has Z plated in 5mm.

Perhaps ,it would seem that there's not much call for it unless hundreds of Australia DIY ers suddenly start marking drill jigs :D



Grahame

[Oldneweng]

Have you read this thread? http://www.woodworkforums.com/185884-help-drill-grinding-jig-instructions/?highlight=drill+sharpen

There may be some useful info there.

This site has a lot of good stuff. Shop Made Drill Sharpening Jigs (http://www.gadgetbuilder.com/DrillSharp.html)

Dean

[Pete F]

IOn another note, who would think it so hard to get 5mm threaded rod??? Bunnings, Stratco, Mitre10, all are still firmly ensconced in the 1960s, unless of course you don't mind galvanised.

I hear you! I was in Bunnings today and thought I'd check out what they had in the range of grub screws. The answer? 2, yes TWO, blister packs in some bizarre UNC size. At the moment it's a nonsense of Whitworth and metric. In future rather than gal, which is metric as you mentioned, try stainless as that's also sold as metric.

[Gavin Newman]

I got some metric threaded rod from United Fasteners on Cavan Road about a year ago.

[th62]

Next time I go to Bunnings I'll grab some imperial nuts and bolts and offer to pay for them in pounds, shillings and pence - they should appreciate that.